Engineering Procedure

SAEP-407 8 March 2017

Qualification of Nonmetallic Pipe Installers, Supervisors, and Inspectors
Document Responsibility: Non-Metallic Standards Committee

Contents
1 Scope ................................................................ 2
2 Conflicts and Deviations .................................... 2
3 References ........................................................ 2
4 Definitions.......................................................... 4
5 General Requirements ...................................... 5
6 Requirements for Installer of
Nonmetallic Piping Certification Program ...... 6
7 Requirements for Supervisor of Nonmetallic
Piping Construction Certification Program .... 7
8 Requirements for Inspector of Nonmetallic
Piping Construction Certification Program .... 8
Revision Summary................................................... 9

Previous Issue: New Next Planned Update: 8 March 2020

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Contact: Badghaish, Adel Abubaker (badaghaa) on phone +966-13-8809604

©Saudi Aramco 2017. All rights reserved.

Document Responsibility: Non-Metallic Standards Committee SAEP-407
Issue Date: 8 March 2017
Next Planned Update: 8 March 2020 Qualification of Nonmetallic Installers, Supervisors, and Inspectors

1 Scope

1.1 This Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedure (SAEP) establishes the minimum
training, examination, qualification, and certification requirements of Saudi
Aramco and contractor personnel installing, supervising or inspecting
nonmetallic piping systems during the construction, modification and repairs.

1.2 This procedure is limited to the nonmetallic piping systems including:

 Reinforced Thermosetting Resin (RTR- GRE, GRV and GRP)
 Reinforced Thermoplastic Pipe (RTP- Fiber and Steel Reinforced)
 Thermoplastic Pipe (HDPE, PVC, CPVC, PP)

2 Conflicts and Deviations

2.1 Any conflicts between this procedure and other applicable Saudi Aramco
Engineering Standards (SAESs), Materials System Specifications (SAMSSs),
Standard Drawings (SASDs), or industry standards, codes, and forms shall be
resolved in writing by the Company or Buyer Representative through the
Manager, Consulting Services Department of Saudi Aramco, Dhahran.

2.2 Direct all requests to deviate from this procedure in writing to the Company or
Buyer Representative, who shall follow internal company procedure SAEP-302
and forward such requests to the Manager, Consulting Services Department of
Saudi Aramco, Dhahran.

3 Applicable Documents

The selection of materials and equipment, and the design, construction, maintenance, and
repair of equipment and facilities covered by this procedure shall comply with the latest
edition (at the project cut-off date) of the references listed below, unless otherwise noted.

3.1 Saudi Aramco References

Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedures

SAEP-302 Instructions for Obtaining a Waiver of a Mandatory
Saudi Aramco Engineering Requirement
SAEP-334 Retrieval, Certification, and Submittal of Saudi
Aramco Engineering and Vendor Drawings
SAEP-394 Field Butt Fusion Welding and Qualification of
Polyethylene Pipe and Fittings for Water and
Gas Services
Saudi Aramco: Company General Use
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Document Responsibility: Non-Metallic Standards Committee SAEP-407
Issue Date: 8 March 2017
Next Planned Update: 8 March 2020 Qualification of Nonmetallic Installers, Supervisors, and Inspectors

Saudi Aramco Engineering Standards

SAES-A-004 General Requirements for Pressure Testing
SAES-A-007 Hydrostatic Testing Fluids and Lay-Up Procedures
SAES-A-114 Excavation and Backfill
SAES-B-064 Onshore and Nearshore Pipeline Safety
SAES-L-100 Applicable Codes and Standards for Pressure
Piping Systems
SAES-L-109 Selection of Flanges, Bolts, and Gaskets
SAES-L-125 Safety Instruction Sheet for Piping and Pipelines
SAES-L-150 Pressure Testing of Plant Piping and Pipelines
SAES-L-610 Nonmetallic Piping for In-Plant
SAES-L-620 Design of Reinforced Thermosetting Resins (RTR)
Piping in Hydrocarbon and Water Injection
Systems
SAES-L-650 Construction of Nonmetallic Piping in Hydrocarbon
and Water Injection Systems

Saudi Aramco Materials System Specifications

01-SAMSS-029 RTR (Fiberglass) Pipe and Fittings for Gravity
Flow
01-SAMSS-034 RTR (Fiberglass) Pressure Pipe and Fittings
01-SAMSS-042 Reinforced Thermoset Resin (RTR) Pipe and
Fittings in Water and Hydrocarbon Services
01-SAMSS-049 Reinforced Thermoset Resin (RTR) Pipe, Fittings
and Adhesive Packing, Handling, Transportation,
and Storage
01-SAMSS-051 High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Pipe and Fittings

Saudi Aramco Inspection Requirements

175-012300 RTR Pipes and Fittings: For Water and Hydrocarbons
175-012400 RTR (Fiberglass) Pipes and Fittings for Gravity Flow
175-012401 RTP Pipes and Fittings: For Water and Hydrocarbons
175-018000 High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Pipe, Spool,
and Fittings

Saudi Aramco: Company General Use

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Document Responsibility: Non-Metallic Standards Committee SAEP-407
Issue Date: 8 March 2017
Next Planned Update: 8 March 2020 Qualification of Nonmetallic Installers, Supervisors, and Inspectors

3.2 Industry Codes and Standards

American Petroleum Institute

API 15HR High-pressure Fiberglass Line Pipe
API 15LR Specification for Low Pressure Fiberglass Line Pipe
API 15S Spoolable Composite Pipeline Systems

American Society for Testing and Materials

ASTM F441 Standard Specification for Chlorinated Poly(Vinyl
Chloride) (CPVC) Plastic Pipe, Schedules 40 and
80
ASTM D1785 Standard Specification for Poly(Vinyl Chloride)
(PVC) Plastic Pipe, Schedules 40, 80, and 120
ASTM F2389 Standard Specification for Pressure-rated
Polypropylene (PP) Piping Systems

American Water Works Association

AWWA C950 Fiberglass Pressure Pipe

International Organization for Standardization

ISO 4427 Plastics Piping Systems - Polyethylene (PE) Pipes
and Fittings for Water Supply
ISO 14692 Petroleum and Natural Gas Industries -
Glass-Reinforced Plastics (GRP) Piping
ISO 15874 Plastics Piping Systems for Hot and Cold Water
Installations - Polypropylene (PP)

4 Definitions

Certification Agent: Entity that conducts training, examination and qualification as

well as issues certification for installation, supervision, and inspection of nonmetallic
piping. The certification agent must be a Saudi Aramco approved pipe manufacturer.

Contractor: The entity constructing, modifying or repairing nonmetallic piping systems.

Installation Inspector: A person able to perform satisfactory and independent

inspection of composite pipe installations and installation work.

Installation Supervisor: A person able to perform practical supervision of the

installation and joining of composite pipes.

Saudi Aramco: Company General Use

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Document Responsibility: Non-Metallic Standards Committee SAEP-407
Issue Date: 8 March 2017
Next Planned Update: 8 March 2020 Qualification of Nonmetallic Installers, Supervisors, and Inspectors

Installer: Party which carries out all or part of the construction and commissioning of
composite pipe installations and installation work for a project.

Manufacturer: A Saudi Aramco approved facility that produces the piping system.

5 General Requirements

5.1 Saudi Aramco and contractor personnel are considered to be qualified to perform
as a joint-specific installer, installation supervisor or installation inspector during
the construction of a nonmetallic piping system by fulfilling two requirements:
- Hold a valid certification from an approved certification agent and,
- For the construction of low pressure systems (< 500 psig), hold a valid
refresher course certificate from the manufacturer that supplies the project-
specific piping system materials

Direct supervision from the manufacturer is mandatory during the construction

of high pressure piping systems (≥ 500 psig). This will substitute the
requirement for a refresher course.

Table 1 - Personnel Qualification Requirements

for Construction of Nonmetallic Piping Systems

High Pressure Low Pressure

Requirements
(≥ 500 psig) (< 500 psig)

Valid certification from an approved certification agent Yes Yes

Valid refresher course certificate from the
No Yes
manufacturer of the project-specific materials
Direct supervision from the manufacturer during
Yes No
construction

5.2 Certification agents are allowed to conduct joint-specific training and certification
in accordance with the types of joints that have been specified in their Saudi
Aramco approval.

5.3 Certification agents shall define joint-specific certification programs for

Installer, Supervisor, and Inspector of nonmetallic piping construction in
accordance with the applicable Saudi Aramco materials specifications,
engineering standards, and engineering procedures.

5.4 The certification programs shall have written requirements and procedures
covering personnel prequalification, training, and certification.

5.5 The certification programs shall be composed of theoretical and practical

components with their respective examination and passing requirements.
Saudi Aramco: Company General Use
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Document Responsibility: Non-Metallic Standards Committee SAEP-407
Issue Date: 8 March 2017
Next Planned Update: 8 March 2020 Qualification of Nonmetallic Installers, Supervisors, and Inspectors

5.6 The certification programs shall be initially submitted to the Chairman of

Nonmetallic Standards Committee at Saudi Aramco for one-time review and
approval. Any significant updates or modifications to the certification programs
must be notified.

5.7 All documentation to be submitted to Saudi Aramco shall be prepared in the

English language.

5.8 Once the participant successfully completed the certification program requirements,
a qualification certificate shall be issued by the certification agent, specifying:
-Date and location
-Name of the certification agent
-Name of the participant
-Name of the participant company
-Certification category (Installer / Supervisor / Inspector)
-Type of material
-Type of joint
-Validity
-Approval signatures, seals, and/or stamps.
-Unique identification number for traceability

5.9 Certification agents shall keep records of the certificates issued with the
pertinent details.

6 Requirements for Installer of Nonmetallic Piping Certification Program

6.1 Pre-requisites

Pipe installer candidates should be comfortable in the language in which the

qualification and certification programs are being conducted. The minimum age
shall be 18 years old and candidates shall have any relevant education, experience
or certificate demonstrating basics skills to perform as a pipe installer.

6.2 Technical Course Requirements

-Terminology
-Material properties
-Health and safety
-Typical defects
-Transport and storage
-Handling/fitting of pipe
Saudi Aramco: Company General Use
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Document Responsibility: Non-Metallic Standards Committee SAEP-407
Issue Date: 8 March 2017
Next Planned Update: 8 March 2020 Qualification of Nonmetallic Installers, Supervisors, and Inspectors

6.3 Practical Course Requirements

-Preparation, assembly and finishing of main joint types
-Able to read and interpret manufacturer recipes and procedures
-Practice installation of number of joints under supervision
-Hydrotest and leak test

6.4 Validity

The pipe installer certification shall be valid for two years provided that a
minimum of four weeks of joining experience occurred during the first six
months from the certification program completion date.

6.5 Renewal

The certificate will be automatically renewed for one more year provided that
four weeks of joining experience occurred within the last six months. There is
no limitations for the number of times that the certificate can be renewed.

6.6 Additional Requirements

6.6.1 For the construction of low pressure systems (< 500 psig), the initial
10 joints production (or 100 meters) for each installer shall be an
inspection hold point.

6.6.2 For the construction of high pressure systems (≥ 500 psig), the initial
25 joints production (or 250 meters) for each installer shall be an
inspection hold point.

7 Requirements for Supervisor of Nonmetallic Piping Construction

Certification Program

7.1 Pre-requisites

Installation supervisor candidates for a specific jointing system shall be a

certified installer with at least two years’ experience in the same jointing system.
The candidate shall hold a high school diploma and be fluent in the English
language.

7.2 Technical Course Requirements

- Supervisor duties and responsibilities
- Health and safety
- Installation checklist

Saudi Aramco: Company General Use

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Document Responsibility: Non-Metallic Standards Committee SAEP-407
Issue Date: 8 March 2017
Next Planned Update: 8 March 2020 Qualification of Nonmetallic Installers, Supervisors, and Inspectors

7.3 Practical Course Requirements

- Preparation, assembly and finishing of main joint types
- Inspection of field work
- Set up of hydrotest and leak test

7.4 Validity

The supervisor certification shall be valid for three years provided that a
minimum of four weeks of working experience occurred during the first six
months from the certification program completion date.

7.5 Renewal

The certificate will be automatically renewed for two more years provided that
four weeks of working experience occurred within the last six months. There is
no limitations for the number of times that the certificate can be renewed.

7.6 Refresher Course

A joint specific refresher course by the pipe manufacturer shall be completed

every five years to address latest updates on the joint installation.

8 Requirements for Inspector of Nonmetallic Piping Construction

Certification Program

8.1 Pre-requisites

Installation inspector candidates for a specific jointing system shall have

completed the installer certification program for the same jointing system within
the last two years. Candidates shall have any relevant education or certificate
demonstrating skills to perform as a pipe inspector and a minimum of three
years’ experience.

8.2 The certification program shall include technical and practical sessions of the
following topics:
- Inspector duties and responsibilities
- Inspection of received goods
- Inspection before, during, and after assembly of main joint types
- Inspection of support
- Inspection of repair
- Hydrostatic testing
- Written procedures, documentation and reporting
Saudi Aramco: Company General Use
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Document Responsibility: Non-Metallic Standards Committee SAEP-407
Issue Date: 8 March 2017
Next Planned Update: 8 March 2020 Qualification of Nonmetallic Installers, Supervisors, and Inspectors

8.3 Validity

The inspector certification shall be valid for three years provided that a
minimum of four weeks of working experience occurred during the first six
months from the certification program completion date.

8.4 Renewal

The certificate will be automatically renewed for two more years provided that
four weeks of working experience occurred within the last six months. There is
no limitations for the number of times that the certificate can be renewed.

8.5 Refresher Course

A joint specific refresher course by the pipe manufacturer shall be completed

every five years to address latest updates on the joint installation.

Revision Summary
8 March 2017 New Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedure developed in line with ISO 14692 to ensure the
safe and reliable construction of nonmetallic piping systems.

Saudi Aramco: Company General Use

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